PRAYER

Prayer is Necessary to Salvation

J..C. Ryle,

I hold salvation by grace as strongly as any one. I would gladly offer a free and full pardon to the greatest sinner that ever lived. I would not hesitate to stand by his dying bed, and say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ even now, and you shall be saved.” But that a man can have salvation without asking for it, I cannot see in the Bible. That a man will receive pardon of his sins, who will not so much as lift up his heart inwardly, and say, “Lord Jesus, give it to me,” this I cannot find. I can find that nobody will be saved by his prayers, but I cannot find that without prayer anybody will be saved….To be prayerless is to be without God,—without Christ,—without grace,—without hope,—and without heaven. It is to be in the road to hell…..

….I do not deny that a man may pray without heart, and without sincerity. I do not for a moment pretend to say, that the mere fact of a person praying proves everything about his soul. As in every other part of religion, so also in this, there is plenty of deception and hypocrisy.

But this I do say,—that not praying is a clear proof that a man is not yet a true Christian. He cannot really feel his sins. He cannot love God. He cannot feel himself a debtor to Christ. He cannot long after holiness. He cannot desire heaven. He has yet to be born again. He has yet to be made a new creature. He may boast confidently of election, grace, faith, hope, and knowledge, and deceive ignorant people. But you may rest assured it is all vain talk if he does not pray.

And I say furthermore, that of all the evidences of real work of the Spirit, a habit of hearty private prayer is one of the most satisfactory that can be named. A man may preach from false motives. A man may write books, and make fine speeches, and seem diligent in good works, and yet be a Judas Iscariot. But a man seldom goes into his closet, and pours out his soul before God in secret, unless he is in earnest. The Lord Himself has set His stamp on prayer as the best proof of a true conversion. When He sent Ananias to Saul in Damascus, He gave him no other evidence of his change of heart than this,— “Behold, he prayeth.” (Acts 9:11).

I know that much may go on in a man’s mind before he is brought to pray. He may have many convictions, desires, wishes, feelings, intentions, resolutions, hopes, and fears. But all these things are very uncertain evidences. They are to be found in ungodly people, and often come to nothing. In many a case they are not more lasting than the morning cloud, and the dew that passes away. A real hearty prayer, flowing from a broken and contrite spirit, is worth all these things put together.

I know that the elect of God are chosen to salvation from all eternity. I know that the Holy Spirit, who calls them in due time, in many instances leads them by very slow degrees to acquaintance with Christ. But the eye of man can only judge by what it sees. I cannot call anyone justified until he believes. I dare not say that any one believes until he prays. I cannot understand a dumb faith. The first act of faith will be to speak to God. Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to faith what breath is to life. How a man can live and not breathe is past my comprehension, and how a man can believe and not pray is past my comprehension too.

Reader, never be surprised if you hear ministers of the Gospel dwelling much on the importance of prayer. This is the point we want to bring you to,—we want to know that you pray. Your views of doctrine may be correct. Your love of Protestantism may be warm and unmistakable. But still this may be nothing more than head knowledge and party spirit. We want to know whether you are actually acquainted with the throne of grace, and whether you can speak to God as well as speak about God.

Reader, do you wish to find out whether you are a true Christian? Then rest assured that my question is one of the very first importance,—DO YOU PRAY?
from the J.C. Ryle Tract, Do You Pray? A Question For Everybody. (which can be found at Evangelical Tracts)

Biblical Prayer Series XV and XVI PRAYER AND FASTING

XV THE PRAYER OF THE UNSAVED

February 02, 2011 Bible Study Charles e. Whisnant5, Pastor/Teacher

God does not promise to answer the prayer of the unsaved, but sometimes He chooses to respond to them for His own purposes.

1A Prayer Related to Safety

Such prayer may be directly involved in an turmoil in which a person is also coming to salvation spiritually. Luke 23:39; Jonah 1:14-16

2A Prayer Related to Salvation Spirituality

1B The two men praying in the temple: Luke 18:9-14

2B The two men hanging on the cross: Luke 23:39-43

XVI PRAYER AND FASTSING

Definiton:

1A Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God's face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the "how-to's" of this life-changing experience. When I first undertook an extended fast, I had difficult time finding information on the nature of a Biblical fast, how to start, what to expect physically and spiritually, and how to terminate a fast. Bill Bright.

1. Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast. Exodus 14;29 Moses: I Kings19:8 Elijah. Hannah 1 Samuel 1:7.
2. Day of Atonement: 24 hour fasting: Leviticus 16:29, 31; 23:26-32.
• Judges 20:26; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Joel 1:14;
3. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
4. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
5. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
6. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
7. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
8. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
9. Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. You will discover more time to pray and seek God's face. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God.

2A Some characteristic of fasting

1a Grief: 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1;7; 3:35; Nehemiah 1:4

2b Repentance or penitence: i.e. confection of sin

1. 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 21:27; Daniel 9:3-4;

2. Humbling oneself is part of this: Psalms 69:11

3. An affliction or humbling of the soul.

4. Disciplining (controlling) regular desires: Psalms 35:13, Ezra 8:21

3c Appealing to God for His help. Exodus 34:28; 2 Samuel 12:16-23

1. David fasts all night after his child of adultery with Bathsheba fell ill

2. Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:4,10

3. A person expected to gain God’s help, but would not if he was not inwardly sincere: Isaiah 58:3-4; Joel 2:12-14;

4. Genuine spiritual commitment to God must be present or fasting is of no avail Isaiah 58:5-12; Jeremiah 14:11-12; Joel 2:12-14

5. Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and with weeping:.. render your hearts and not your garments: Zechariah 7-8

3C New Testament fasting: ^{3521 nest e uo}

1a Jesus

Practice: Matthew 4:1-4 at the temptation

Teaching: Matthew 6:16-18. For the glory of God not man.

Matthew 9:14-17: They didn’t for a reason but later did.

2b Early Chrisitans

§ Cornelius fasted; Acts 10:30

§ When selecting and commissioning missionaries Acts 13:2-3

§ Paul: 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 Acts 9:9; 27:33, 14:23

4D Should we past in our present day

1. It has reasons

o Fostering love for God that hugers and thirsts after righteousness: Mt 5:6

o Purifying the life through developing self control over a selfish, self-love catering to one’s cravings and egotism.

1. Fasting prevents luxuries from becoming necessities.

2. Fasting is a protection of the spirit against the encroachments of the body

· Seeking God’s mercy and power to fulfill deep spiritual needs.

2. It is temporary

o Mark 2:19: Fasting is a good time while Christ is away.

3. It is not for salvation

4.

5E The Principles of the Biblical Fast

Types of Fasts in the Bible

• The Normal Fast: No food is eaten, but water is drank (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:2)

• The Absolute Fast: Abstaining from both food and water (Acts 9:9; Ezra10:6).

…..Today, it is advisable to drink water due to modern toxins & pollutions in the body``

…..which need flushed.

• The Partial Fast: Diet is restricted, rather than total abstinence from food

…..(Daniel 1:15; 10:2-3)

Isaiah 58:1-14

WHY BELIEVING IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD MAKES OUR BLOOD PRESSURE GO DOWN ABOUT 35% WHEN WE PRAY

The first of five videos of this one message: (Goodness). 

BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT PRAYER AND SOVEREIGNTY PART TWO:  THE HEART AND PURPOSE OF PRAYER AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.

Charles e. Whisnant

ACTS 4:23-31

1.   Confidence in God’s sovereignty – the true foundation for prayer. 23-28

2.   Asking for the right things – the true test of prayer. 29-30

3.   The felt realization of God’s presence and power – the true answer to prayer. 31

1A      Believers in both the OT Scriptures and the NT Scriptures had no problem believing in both the absolute sovereignty of God and the necessity of prayer.

·       The early church had no problem with the sovereignty of God in their plight.

·       The first recorded prayer meeting of the early church.

·       Notice how they begin their prayer meeting: 24-25

2A      Prayer can be used as a means of refusing to submit to what we know is the will of God!

·       Abraham was not in agreement with God’s purpose and decided to “pray” in hopes of changing God’s mind.  Genesis `18:17, 23-31

·       Abraham seemed determined to compel his will on God and correct God’s purpose.

·       What happen?  God did not change His mind, but prayer changed Abraham.

·       While God could have came down on Abraham rather hard, God let him vent his fears and then shows us how unreasonable we are acting.  “Verbalizing” our events sometimes shows us our we just blew it out of proportion.

3A    It is not wrong for us to pray what has been termed “selfish prayer.”

·       David and his child:  2 Samuel 12:13-15. David sinned; God told him what was going to happen. Yet David felt he had to still pray. 2 Samuel 12:16. What happen when the child died? Vs 20

o   The servants were expecting David to respond negative. What was his response? Vs 21-23. He in faith bowed to God’s sovereign providence.

·       Habbakkuk challenges God’s apparent inactivity. Habbakkuk 3:1, 2,13,16-19. Result?

o   Prayer with God radically changed the prophet’s whole perspective and attitude.

o   Vs. 2 is real prayer.  Vs 13 show a true understanding and application of God’s purpose in history. Everything that happens involves the people of God.

o   Vs. 6-19  Shows our attitude at what we know is going to happen to our nations.

Wednesday Night Bible Study

BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT PRAYER AND SOVEREIGNTY PART TWO:  THE HEART AND PURPOSE OF PRAYER AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.

ACTS 4:23-31

1. 1.   Confidence in God’s sovereignty – the true foundation for prayer. 23-28

1. 2.   Asking for the right things – the true test of prayer. 29-30

1. 3.The felt realization of God’s presence and power – the true answer to prayer. 31

 
 
 

1A      Believers in both the OT Scriptures and the NT Scriptures had no problem believing in both the absolute sovereignty of God and the necessity of prayer.     

  The early church had no problem with the sovereignty of God in their plight